Traffic cone marker assembly



L. A. CIYOFFI ETAL 2,954,005

TRAFFIC CONE MARKER ASSEMBLY Filed Dec; 19, 1958 ih I f T O 2'4 v 30 T 419 5.

INVENTORS LOUIS A. CIOFFI THOMAS A. GALLIMORE fim fl. A TOR E) United States Patent TRAFFIC CONE MARKER ASSEMBLY Louis A. Ciofli, 345 E. 119th St, and Thomas A. Galli more, 435 E- 1411!- SL, both of New York, N-Y. Filed Dec. 19, 1958, Ser. No. 781,644

7 Claims. (Cl. 116- 63) The present invention relates to cone marker assemblies of the type that are disposed in lines along roads and higl'av'v'ays to direct trafiic.

Heretofore, such trafiic cone markers were constructed of a flat base member and a hollow, conical body member of rubber or plastic mounted thereon. The base member is conventionally ring shaped to provide means for entry into the interior of the hollow body portion of the traflic cone so that numbers of such cones can be stacked for ease in storing.

Prior traflic cone markers have been between about two and three feet in height. When large numbers of these cones are stacked for storage in' a small space, such as in a locker or truck, only relatively little saving in space is effected. in addition, difiiculty is often encountered separating such stacked trafiic cones due to sticking. of the inner surfaces of upper cones to the outer surfaces of cones below. & a I

Accordingly, it is the object of the present invention to provide a trafi ic cone marker assembly capable of reduction in' size and cooperation with other of such reducedsize cones for ease in storage.

Another object of the present invention is to provide such a traffic cone which overcomes the objection of sticking when stored with other cones in the stacked position.

Other aims and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following description and appended claims.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is an elevational view of a traffic cone marker assembly embodying the invention, part being broken away to show in cross-section the internal construction;

Fig. 2 is an elevational view of the tratfic cone marker assembly of Fig. 1 showing the assembly in the collapsed position, part being broken away to show in cross-section the internal construction;

Fig. 3 is an elevational view of a modified traflic cone marker assembly embodying the invention, part being broken away to show in cross-section the internal construction; and

Fig. 4 is an elevational view of the traffic cone marker assembly of Fig. 3 is the collapsed position.

In accordance with the present invention, a trafiic cone marker assembly is provided comprising a base member, collapsible support means having first and second ends and secured at said first end to the base member, and a collapsible body member secured at the lower end to the base member and at the upper end to the second end of the collapsible support means.

Referring specifically to the embodiment of Figs. 1 and 2, the traflic cone marker assembly comprises a base member 12 and a collapsible body member 14. The base member includes compartment means 16 for storing material 18, such as sand, water, or the like, for weighting the lower end of the assembly. Telescoping support ICC base member 12 by means of sleeve- 26, and is secured at" its upper end 28' to the upper end 30 of collapsible body member 14. V

The collapsible body member 14 is composed of a plurality of relatively-telescoping, truncated-conical tions 32', each having a length substantially equal to that of the sections 22 of telescoping support means 20.

means 20, comprising a plurality of substantially equal 7 length sections 22, is secured at the lower end 24 to the Each successive section 32 has an external lower base diameter slightly larger than the innerupper' base diameter of the section below it, thereby providingfor extension of the assembly to its full height as well as for collapse to a minimum height equal to the length of a single section.

When the assembly is in the fully extended position, as shown in Fig. 1 of the drawing, the overlapping engagement between sections of the collapsible body means as well as the additional support of the fully extended telescoping support means serves to insure against col lapse of the assembly.

The assembly is provided with means for stacking collapsed assemblies in the manner shown in Fig. 2- of the drawings. Recessed engaging means, comprising the inside of collapsed upper telescoping support means20; is provided on the lower side of base member 12- and cooperating protruding engaging means 3 4 is provided at theupper end: 28 of the assembl The truncated conical sections of the collapsible body single, accordion-pleated, generally-conical member having a: series of alternate circular internal folds 38 and external folds 40 which successively decrease in diameter from the lower end to the upper end of the member, as shown in Fig. 3 of the drawings. In the collapsed position, as shown in Fig. 4 of the drawings, each fold 40 contacts the foldimmediately above and below it, thereby providing a great reduction in height of the over-all assembly. Stacking of collapsed assemblies of the modified embodiment is elfected in the same manner as with the embodiment of Figs. 1 and 2.

It has long been desired to provide taller traffic cone markers which can be more easily seen by motorists. It is generally believed that the ideal height for such cones is to the eye level of the motorist in the driving position, ie a height of about five feet. 'It is not feasible to employ a conventional, single body-section cone marker of this height. However, the collapsible cone marker of the invention is ideally suited for construction in five foot extended heights. Such a cone marker, constructed of five, one foot sections, could be stored in a space only one foot in height.

It is to be understood that other modifications of collapsible body member and collapsible support means may be employed without departing from the generic teaching of the present invention.

The traffic cone marker assemblies of the invention may be built of any of the conventional materials of such construction, however, it is preferred that the collapsible body member be constructed of rubber, plastic or the like, in order to avoid damage to a vehicle that may strike it. It is also preferred that the collapsible support member be constructed of metal, plastic or the like, to impart rigidity to the assembly. The material of construction of the base member is less critical, but rub- 3 ber and plastic are preferred from the weight and safety standpoints.

What is claimed is:

1. A traffic cone marker. assembly comprising a weightedbase member; a rigid, telescoped, collapsible support means having a first and a second end and secured near said first end to said base member; and an outer, collapsible body member means having an upper end and a lower end and secured near said lower end to said base member and near said upper end to said collapsible support means at a point near said second end thereof.

2. A traffic cone marker assembly in accordance with claim 1 wherein said base member also has recessed engaging means at the bottom thereof and said second end of said collapsible support means has protruding engaging means, whereby at least two of said trafiic cone marker assemblies may be stacked vertically for storage.

3. The traffic cone marker assembly in accordance with claim 1, wherein said base member includes compartment means for storing material for weighting the lower end of said assembly.

4. The trafiic cone marker assembly in accordance with claim 1, wherein said collapsible body member means comprises a plurality of substantially equal length, relatively telescoping, hollow, truncated-conical sections having successively larger diameters from the upper end to the lower end thereof.

5. The traffic cone marker assembly in accordance with claim 1, wherein said collapsible body member means comprises a hollow, single, accordion-pleated, generallyconical member.

6. A trafiic cone marker assembly comprising a weighted base member; vertical, rigid, telescoped, collapsible support means having a first end and a second end and secured at said first end to said base member, said telescoped support means comprising a plurality of relatively telescoping sections of substantially equal length; and an outer collapsible body member means formed of plastic material and secured at the lower end.

to said base member and to said telescoped support means at a point near said second end thereof; said collapsible body member means comprising a plurality of relatively-telescoping, hollow, truncated-conical sections, each having a length substantially equal to the length of said equal sections of said telescoped support means; said base member also having recessed engaging means at the bottom thereof and said second end of said telescoped support means having protruding engaging means, whereby at least two of said traffic cone marker assemblies may be stacked vertically for storage.

7. A trafiic cone marker assembly comprising a weighted base member; vertical, rigid, telescoped, collapsible support means having a first end and a second end and secured at said first end to said base member, said telescoped support means comprising a plurality of relatively telescoping sections of substantially equal length; and the outer collapsible body member means formed of plastic material and secured at the lower end to said base member and at the upper end to said telescoped support means at a point near said second end thereof; said collapsible body member means comprising a hollow, single, accordion-pleated, generally-conical member; said base member also having recessed engaging means at the bottom thereof and said second end of said telescoped support means having protruding engaging means, whereby at least two of said trafiic cone marker assemblies may be stacked vertically for storage.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

